This year was the “worst” for industrial deaths with over 24 deaths recorded and over half of these occurring in the mining sector, according to the end of year report from the Labour Ministry.
“In spite of efforts, 2010 was a sad year as there were over 24 industrial deaths. The highest year for industrial deaths in recent times and a 400% increase over 2007,” the report, released yesterday, said. More than 50% of the deaths occurred in the mining sector with another 17% in the forestry sector. More than half of those who died were between the ages of 15 and 35 years, particularly in the mining and forestry sectors.
“[Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir] said that too many chances are being taken with the lives of the workers. He said that we have to reduce the risks of accidents and try to eliminate them from workplaces. These are avoidable loss of life and employers and workers have to better observe safety and health protocols and not to take chances with the limb and life of workers,” the report said.
According to figures provided, mining saw 13 deaths; sawmilling, 4; security, 2; construction, 2; utility 1 and “unaccounted” 2 deaths. Among these were six persons between ages 15 to 25; seven persons between ages 26 to 35; four persons between ages 36 to 45; three persons between ages 46 to 60; and two persons over 60 years and one whose age was not stated.
Meanwhile, the report said that this year was highly successful for the labour portfolio and the ministry made much progress, establishing new highs in the areas of industrial training, job services and the protection of workers.
It said that some of these achievements include training a record high of over 2,000 persons in the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment and over 500 single parents. It also noted the placement of over 2,250 persons in jobs, an 11-year high, and the introduction of an online system for the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA).
The report also pointed to the successful conclusion of over 900 claims by workers against employers, collecting close to $30 million in benefits for workers. Additionally, it cited the “highly successful” execution of the programme of support for the laid off Barama workers and “new highs” in the areas of public education and awareness in terms of labour standards, prevention of child labour and HIV and AIDS in the workplace.
In relation to the Labour, Occupational Health and Safety Department, the report said that this year, the ministry conducted its most extensive inspection programme for worksites to attain better work practices and to ensure that workers fully benefit from the protection afforded under the labour laws. Over 3,000 inspections were done and while these are 25% less than what was planned by the ministry, emphasis was placed on the quality of inspections and the follow-up to ensure that employers complied with the citations of the labour officers. The report says that in spite of a few minor issues, 2010 has seen the industrial relations climate remain relatively stable.
The report says that this year, the ministry received over 1,100 complaints from employees and settled almost 900, which brought in approximately $30 million on behalf of the workers from errant employers.
Ministry staff also completed a two-year cycle of training to improve capacity, based on international best practices, and to achieve greater productivity and performance, especially in the areas of occupational safety and health, mediation and ILO standards and conventions.
In relation to the CRMA, the report says that its services continue to grow annually and this year the performance was almost 13% better than in 2009 and an increase of over 125% since 2006. As at 17 December, 2,270 persons were placed at jobs compared to 2023 last year.
In relation to the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), more than $210 million was expended; double that of last year and more programmes were added. Describing it as “a highly successful programme for the training of vulnerable youths and women”, the report says that this year, BIT’s National Training Project for Youth Empowerment saw over 2,044 persons graduating while the Single Parents Programme graduated over 353 persons with an additional 166 single parents set to graduate in a few weeks.
“The successes of these programmes are not only in the record high number of persons who have graduated, but also in the expansion of the programmes across regions and the introduction of new programmes and initiatives,” the report says.
It noted that the heavy-duty equipment training programme continues to do extremely well at Linden and the demand for this training has seen an expansion of the intake at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre in Georgetown, where graduates have moved from 17 in 2009 to 95 in 2010. 116 graduated in Linden while at the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Center, 14 have graduated and another 47 persons are in training
.
Training of office workers was also done in addition to drivers/salespersons. Another course, automotive air-conditioning, electrical systems and engine diagnostics, was introduced.
The report also pointed to the success of HIV/AIDS workplace programme with 35 companies signing on this year. In relation to the ‘Tackle Programme’, a child labour project under the theme “Tackling Child Labour through Education” to reduce truancy and increase school attendance, the report said that several truancy campaigns were held to investigate whether children were suffering as a result of child labour.
In 2011, the ministry vows to continue in its efforts of empowering youths and providing them with jobs; to ensure safety in the workplace and reduce the occurrence of child labour and stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS victims.